June 24, 2015

ASLA names 4 fellows from the Northwest

The American Society of Landscape Architects named 37 fellows for 2015, including four people in the Northwest.

The honor recognizes contributions to the profession through work, knowledge, service and leadership, ASLA said in a press release.

Fellows will be recognized at the ASLA annual meeting in Chicago Nov. 6-9.

Here are the Northwest fellows:

Kathryn Gustafson

Gustafson

Kathryn Gustafson of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol was nominated for her work by the Washington chapter. ASLA said her design process centers on rigorous site analysis, and said she “shapes sensually pleasing and beguilingly simple landforms. Her landscapes can be dramatic or remarkably understated. She believes in the importance of everyday, public spaces and their ability to foster civic responsibility.”

The organization said Gustafson focuses on the human body's relationship to the earth.

“To enter a Gustafson project is to gauge immediately the motion of one's body against topographical movement and open one's senses to gradients of space-saturating plant, water and paving textures,” ASLA said.

Gustafson is working in Europe, North America, Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Steven Durrant

Durrant

Steven Durrant of Alta Planning + Design's Seattle office was nominated for leadership/management by the Washington chapter. ASLA cited his 35 years of work on parks, trails, greenways, transit and urban waterfront projects across the United States and internationally.

He has opened six Alta offices in the U.S. and Canada during his 10 years at the firm. He gives talks on active transportation, trails and greenway design.

ASLA also said he offers high-quality design solutions, and been a major influence on other professionals and the public.

F. Michael Faha

F. Michael Faha of Portland-based GreenWorks was nominated for his work by the Oregon chapter. ASLA said Faha is one of the first landscape architects to demonstrate that ecological function can be combined with urbanism and aesthetic beauty.

Faha

For 25 years, his work has put landscape architects at project tables that were traditionally dominated by engineers, ecologists, planners and architects, ASLA said. Faha's work has transformed cities, towns and rural areas, ASLA said, and has involved daylighting streams, brownfield reclamation and stormwater control.

The organization said his Northwest projects help people understand ecological design excellence.

Dr. Robert G. Ribe

Dr. Robert G. Ribe of the University of Oregon in Eugene was nominated for his knowledge by the Oregon chapter. ASLA said Ribe is a leader in the practice of scenery management by landscape architects. He teaches ecological planning studios and research methods to students in landscape architecture, planning and environmental studies.

Ribe

From 1999 to 2010, he directed the Institute for a Sustainable Environment. ASLA said that under his leadership, it provided research and advice to governments in Oregon and Washington on growth, ecosystem preservation and agricultural productivity.

ASLA said his research on forest landscapes has advanced that body of knowledge internationally.